Telpherage system.



J. LAMB.

TELPHERAGE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APR.21, |915.

T., Patented Deo. 28, 1915.

2 SHEETS--SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOcRAPH Co. WASHINGTON. D. c.

. LAMB.

TELPHERAGE SYSTEM APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1915.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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Ja Lam A,

coLUMBxA PLANDGRAPH ctn-,WASmNGTom D. c.

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JAMES LAMB, F CANTON, ILLINOIS.

TEL-PHERAGE SYSTEM.

.Application i'led April 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES LAMB, a citi- Zen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Canton, in the county of Fulton and State ofIllinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in rl'elpherage Sys*tems, of which the following is a specification.

ln carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide asystem of telpher- `age which will be found especially useful. in postoflices for carrying mail from one point yto another; department storesfor transporting merchandise and other articles from place to place; andanalogous places, and wherein the flow of current to the motor of theelectrically propelled vehicle may be cut off and the vehicle brought toa stop quickly and conveniently so that'the operator may fill thecarrier with the goods to be transported.

lt is also my purpose to improve and simplify the general constructionof telpher age apparatus and to provide apparatus of the class describedwhich may be installed and maintained at a minimum expense and whichwill operate eiiiciently and effectively under all conditions.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction,

combination and arrangement of parts here inafter set forth in andfalling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of atelpherage system constructed in accordance with the present invention,two termini and the trackway between the saine being shown. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same. Fig.

3 is an enlarged vertical sectional viewV through one of the termini.Fig. t is a horizontal sectional view therethrough. Fig. is a view of adetail of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1, 1 designate the termini of asystem of telpherage, ning the space between the termini 1, 1. Each Yterminus comprises a base 3 and a supporting frame 4; uprising from thebase 3. rlhe upper end of the supporting frame l receives and supportsthe adjacent extremity of the trackway 2 and this trackway 2 embodiesparallel lines of rails 5 spaced apart a suitable distance.

6 designates a wheeled carrier comprising a supporting frame 7 equipped,with axles Specification of Letters Patent.

while 2 indicates a trackway span- Patented Dec. 22, 1915.

Serial No. 24,299.

respectively upon the outer ends of which are mounted wheels 8 engagingthe lines of rails 5 of the trackway. Secured to the frame 7 anddepending therefrom between the lines of rails of the trackway 2 is abasket 9 or other form of container. Mounted upon the frame 7 andsuitably secured thereto is an electric motor 10 and fixed upon theshaft of the motor is a worm 11 meshing with a worm wheel 12 keyed uponone end of a drive shaft 13, such shaft having the remaining end thereofconnected in driving engagement with one of the axles of the carrier.Secured to the frame 7 and projecting laterally therefrom is an arm 14formed of hinged sections, as shown in Fig.

5, and having the outer section thereof formed with a vertical bore andarranged within this bore is a stem 15. To the lower end of the stem 15is fastened a yoke 17 and journaled within the yoke is a trolley wheel18. This stem is slidably mounted within the bore andl the upper endthereof is equipped with a head 19, while encircling the lower portionof the stem 16 between the under surface of the arm and the yoke 17 is acoiled expansion spring 20 acting to hold the stem normally at its limitof downward movement and the head 19 in engagement with the uppersurface of the arm.

Extending longitudinally of the trackway 2 is an electric currentcarrying conductor 21 to which and one of the lines of rails of thetrackway are connected, respectively, the terminals of a suitable`source of electrical energy. The trolley wheel 18 bears upon theconductor 21 and is connectedV with one terminal of the motor, while theremaining terminal of the motor is grounded upon one of the wheels Sbearing upon the particular line of rails connected with the generator.rlhus, as long as the trolley wheel is in engagement with the trolleywire, current is fed to the motor 10 with the effect to rotate the worm11, worm gear 12 and shaft 13 and so propel the carrier over the linesof rails 5 of the trackway. Fivoted upon each base 3 is a foot treadle22 connected through the medium of a chain 23 with the upper extremityof a vertical lever 24; pivoted upon the base 3. Extending rearwardlyfrom the lever 24C is a link 25 connected with the upper end of an arm26 uprising from one end of a horizontal shaft 27 journaled in aliningbearings carried by the base 3. The remaining extremity of the shaft 27is formed with a rearwardly projecting arm 28 and connected with therear end of the arm 28 is the lower end of a vertical rod 29. Secured tothe rod 29 and arranged longitudinally thereof is a horizontal strip 30of wood or other material having the upper end edge thereof disposed inproximity to one of the trolley wires 2l. The upper edge of the strip 30is formed with a groove 31 adapted toA receive the trolley wheel journaled in the yoke carried by the movable stem 16, and a relativelysmall groove'32 contiguous to the bottom wall of the groove 81 adaptedto receive the trolley wire 21 upon which said movable trolley wheel-bea-rs.

33 designates a retractile spring having one end connected to the rearextremity of lthe link 25 and the opposite end secured to the base 3. n

1n practice, when it 1s 4desired to check the carrier the treadle 22 isdepressed,` thereby l.pulling the 'chain 23 and swinging the lever 24about its pivotal connection with the base 3. In the swinging of thelever` 2l thelink 25'v spring 33 and so rocks the horizontal shaft2'5pulls the arm 26 againstthe action of the l27' with the effect toelevate the arm 28, rod 29 and strip 30. In the upward movement of .thestrip 30 they groove 32 in the upper edge thereof receives the trolleywire 2l 'while the groove 3l receives the trolley Wheel .carried by themovable stem 16 and in .the continued upward movement of the strip, thelongitudinal wheel on the stem 16 S5 is elevated againsttheaction of theAspring 20, thereby disengaging said wheel from the wire 21 and stoppingthe carrier, the groove 3l acting asa brake to check the momentumofv--the-carrier .when thev current iscut o from ythe motor.

`From the foregoing description taken in `connection with theaccompanying drawings,

the construction, Inode of operation and manner of'employing my improvedsystem of telpherage will be readily apparent. It will be seen that Ihave provided a telpherage system whereby a trolley wheel on the carrierand engaging one of the current conductors may be moved out ofengagement with fsuch vconductor and simultaneously `'brakedso as to cutoff the propelling power ofthe motor and vrcheck the speed lof thecarrier.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred -fo`rmofV my-invention by way ofillustration, I wish lit rto be understood thatIdo'not limit or `confine myself to the kprecise detailsV ofconstruction herein de- I of the invention.

Y I- claim l. In a'tel'pherage system, a trackway, a

wheeled carrier on said trackway, a motor for propelling said carrier,an electric current carrying conductor extending along the trackway, atrolley wheel on said carrier engaging said conductor and connected tosaid motor and capable of movement out of engagement with saidconductor, a horizontal strip having the upper edge thereof formed witha groove adapted to receive said trolley wheel and a groove contiguousto the inner wall of said first groove adapted to receive said trolleywire, and means for moving said strip vertically to engage said` trolleywheel and wire in the respective grooves and so disengage the trolleywheel from the wire.

2. In a telpherage system, ak trackway, a

wheeled carrier on said trackway, a motor for propelling said carrier,an electric current carrying conductor extending along the trackway, atrolley wheel on said carrier engaging said conductor and connected tosaid motor and capable of movement out of engagement with saidconductor, a'horizontal strip having the upper edge thereof formed witha groove adapted to receive said trolley wheel and a` groove contiguousto the vinner wall of said iirst groove adapted to receive said trolleywire, a' treadle, a connection between said treadle and strip wherebythe latter will be moved upwardly in the downward movement of thetreadle to engage said trolley wheel and wire in the respective grooveswhereby the trolley wheel will be disengaged from lthe wire, and aspring for restoring said strip to normal position succeeding therelease of said treadle.

8. In a telpherage system, a trackway, a wheeled carrier on saidtrackway, a motor on said carrier, driving connections between saidmotor and certain of the wheels offthe carrier, an electric currentcarrying conductor'extending longitudinally of the -trackway and spacedapart therefrom, a block extending laterally from `the carrier, avertical stem/carried by said block, a trolley wheel on the lower end ofsaid stem engaging said conductor, and connections between therespective sides `of the motor and said conductor and trackway.

4.. In a telpherage system, a trackway, a wheeled carrier on saidtrackway, a motor on said carrier,driving -connections between :saidmotor and certain of the wheels of the carrier, an electric currentcarrying conductor extending longitudinally of the track- Wayland spacedapart'therefrom, a block extending lateral-ly from the carrier, avertical stem carried'by said block, a `trolley wheel on the lower endof said stem engaging said conductor, connections between the respective`sides of thefmotor and said conductor and trackway, and means formoving said trolley wheel out of engagement with said conductor to cutolf the flow of current to the motor.

5.v In a telpherage system, a trackway, a 15 1wheeled carrier on saidtrackway, a motor on said carrier, driving connections between saidmotor and certain of the wheels of the carrier, en electric currentcarrying conduc- 5 tor extending longitudinally of the trackway andspaced apart therefrom, a block vextending laterally from the carrier, avertical stem carried by said block, a, trolley wheel on the lower endof said stem engag, i0 ing said conductor, connections between therespective sides of the motor and said con- Witnesses:

. L'. B. WOODRUFF, P. C. KIMBERLIN.

ductor and trackway, and foot operated means for moving said trolleyWheel out of engagement with the conductor to cut off the flow ofcurrent to the motor.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

